Asked by Paige Wesley on Jun 20, 2024
Verified
A patient has dementia. The health care provider wants to make a differential diagnosis between Alzheimer disease and multiple infarctions. Which diagnostic procedure should a nurse expect to prepare the patient for first?
A) Computed tomography (CT) scan
B) Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
C) Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
D) Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan
Differential Diagnosis
The method by which a clinician distinguishes between diseases with similar presentations to identify the specific disease affecting a patient.
Alzheimer Disease
A progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss, cognitive impairment, and functional decline.
- Outline the procedures for diagnosing and their roles in identifying differences among mental health disorders.
Verified Answer
PT
Phylicia TalbottJun 20, 2024
Final Answer :
A
Explanation :
A CT scan shows the presence or absence of structural changes, including cortical atrophy, ventricular enlargement, and areas of infarction-information that will be helpful to the health care provider. The other tests focus on brain activity and are more expensive; they may be ordered later.
Learning Objectives
- Outline the procedures for diagnosing and their roles in identifying differences among mental health disorders.